Liquid-fuel sprayer



A. FoRsTER LIQUID FUEL SPRAYER Jan.. 22 1924.

Filed Feb. 4:, 1921 Patented dan. 22, i924.

ANDREW FOR/STER, 0F COWES, ISLE` 0F WIGHT, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 J'.SAMUEL WHITE & COMPANY LIMITED, 0F EAST COITES,y ISLE 0F WIGHT, ENGLAND.

LIQUID-FUEL SPRAYER.

Apiuicauoii inea February 4, 1921. serial No. 442,517.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW F oRsTER, a subject of the King of England,and residing at Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Liquid-Fuel Sprayers, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to liquid fuel sprayers and more particularly tosprayers. possessing a central valve spindle with a conical end whichextends into `the sprayer nozzle, and has for its object to modifycertain existing constructions so as to provide a sprayer which has a.lhigh eiicienc and enables the fuel to be sprayed at higfi velocitywhile'employing a lower delivery pressure than is usual with knownconstructions.

In a form of sprayer previously in use a series of tangentially arrangedgrooves were provided through. which the liquid fuel passed into acentral chamber from which the delivery orifice led. In this case thepath followed by the fuel has to turn substantially at right angleswhere the fuel enters the tangential grooves and consequently velocityis lost and ahigher pressure is required for delivering the fuel thanmight otherwise be needed. In a later modification of this type ofsprayerl a separateplate in which are tangential slots is employed thefuel passing from the end of an annular chamber into the slots whereinthe direction of flow is turned at right angles the fuel subsequentlyissuing from the inner ends of the slots into a central chamber whenceit pas-.ses as spray through the delivery orifice. By means of thepresent improvements this change in the direction of Howv as the fuelenters the tangential grooves or slots is avoided so that the resistancethereby offered to the free flow of fuel is materially decreased andconsequently less pressure is required to deliver the fuel through thesprayer. The improved construction also provides means whereby thesprayer may be adjusted in a simple manner so as to vary the quantityvof fuel delivered by it.

According to this invention an annular chamber is fomned between the endof the body of the sprayer and a removable end cap into which chamberthe fuel is delivered under pressure. An annular plate lies between theopposed faces of the body and the capp the outer periphery of this plateforming the inner wall of the annular chamber. AIn the plate are one ormore grooves or holes which are disposed tangentially with respect to acentral chamber of which the hole within the plate forms part. Thesegrooves or holes are designed straight so as to ive the maximum possiblevelocity, and to eep down the pressure. The outer ends of the grooves orholes open through the outer periphery of the plate into theannularchamber. Thus the path followed by the fuel as it iows through thesprayer is deflected in the annularchamber whence the fuel can flowstraight through the tangential passages and consequently the resistanceto the flow is decreased. Conveniently the annular plate lies partly ina recess formed either in the inner face of the cap or inthe end 0f thebody of the sprayer the depth of this recess being such that asubstantial portion of the outer periphery of the plate projects beyondthe recess so as to form the inner wall of the annular chamber. A seriesof interchangeable annular plates is provided each plate having one ormore tangential grooves or holes in it but the number of these groovesor holes varying in each plate. The amount of fuel delivered by thesprayer can therefore be determined and varied in accordance with thenumber of holes or grooves in the plate which is inserted in thesprayer. Conveniently one or more tangential grooves are formed in oneface of each annular plate the groove or grooves being constructed andarranged so that when the plate is in position between the end of thebody of Athe sprayer and the cap, one or more passages will be formedwhich lead from the inner side of the annular chamber into the centralchamber whence the fuel passes to the delivery orifice. The recesswhether formed lin the inner face of the end cap or in the end of thebody is of such depth that one side of the plate is sunk into the recessto an extent which is not less than the depth of the groove or groovesformed in the opposite face of the plate. Thus if the plate isincorrectly placed in osition the passages in it will be closed andp themistake will be at once apparent. y

The invention may be carried out in practice in various ways but theaccompanying drawings illustrate ,by way of example alternativeconstructions that be adopted. In these drawings.,

' the drawings.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the end portion of afuel sprayer to Figure l. but showing an alternative construction a YLikeiettersl indicate like parts throughout The body of the sprayer ofwhich only the end isshowu in the drawings 1s of known construction witha valve spindle B Imssing longitudinally through it. a hollow space Cliving formed around the spindle into`which the liquid fuel is forced bysuitable-means. From the end of this fuel space C aseries of divergingpassages D run through'the end portionrA of the body of they sprayerthese passages terminating in vorifices D situated in the end face ofthe sprayer body. I n the: construction shown in Figure 1 a shallowannular recess A2 is formed in the outerjpfart of the end face of thebody and the orifices D lie in this recess. A. cap E is screwed on totheend portion A Iof the sprayer bodyfandis fixed in place by a locl nut For otherwise. At the centre of this cap is the delivery orifice Gr whichis provided with a seating for a conical.

valveB formed on the end of the spindle B.' The length of the coneforming this valve may varyand at its apex it is provided with acylindrical prolongation B2 on the endY ofwhich is an enlargement B3which lies fill beyond the delivery opening G and serves to spreadthe'fuel passing through this openlng. i In the inner face-of the cap Eimmediately around the openingfG there is formed a recess E which"constitutes part of a. central chamber into which the fuel is'Vdelivered before it passes through the delivery passage G. Around thisrecess E thereis formed inthe face of the cap E an annular recess E2 oflessdepth than the recess E and in this recess lies anv annular plate H.vThis. plate is of such thickness that when in position part of itsouter periphery is sunk ...into the recess E2 while the remainder ofthis periphery as at H constitutes the inner wall of an annularVchamber-J whose other walls are respectively formed by the annularrecess A2 in the end face of the sprayer body A and the sides ES andl E4of the interior angle of the cap E. The hole H2-in the centre ofV theplate H is convenientlyof the same diamassage .through which thevalvevspindle passes and alsothe recess inv the -cap IE and'these partsconstitute a central. chamber into which the fuel `is dclivered throughgrooves H3 formed in one face of the plate H. These grooves H3 as shownin Figure 2 run taugentially from the central hole H2 right out to andthrough the periphery H of the plate so that when the grooved face ofthe plate is held by the cap E against the face of the end portion A ofthe sprayer body tangential fuel passages are formed which lead from theinner wall H of the annular chamber J into the central chamber H2.

The fuel passes through the space C in the valve body A 1n the directionof the axis of the latter and thence through the diverging passages Dinto the annular chamber J in which the direction of flow is changed'and the fuel then fiows inwardly through the tangential passages H3 intothe central chamber H2. The change in the direction of flow thus takesplace in the annular chamber J without serious obstruction so thatl lesspressure is required 'to force fuel through the'sprayer than when thechange in direction occurs actually in the ends of tangential grooves orslots as in previous constructions of sprayers.

A series of interchangeable plates H are provided as shown in Figure 2each plate having a different number of tangential grooves H3 the numberconveniently ranging from 1 to 4 and these grooves being disposed asshown in Figure 2. Thus if the sprayer is todeliver a lesser quantity offuel a plate H is inserted having say only one or perhaps two grooves,but on the other hand, if a greater quantity of fuel is to be delivereda plate having say four grooves may be used. In order to prevent the'plate from being wrongly placed in the sprayer the recess E2 in theinner face of the capv E in which one side of the plate H lies is madeof such depth that if the plate is placed in the cap` the' wrong wayround with the grooved face against the face of the cap then the ends ofthe grooves H3 will be com pletely closed by the side wall of the recessE2. As there will thus he no passage through the sprayer the mistake canhe readily ascertained when the sprayer is tested to see that thepassages are clear.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 3, in place of the' recessin which one side of the plate H lies being formed in the oap E, thisrecess is formed as at A in the face of the end portion A of the body ofthe sprayer. The outer annular part A2 of this end face in which are theorifices D at the ends of the passages D then projects beyond the innerpart of the face. The grooved face of the plate H is placed against vtheinner face E of the ca which is ,formed flat around the 'recess E. Theends of the tangential grooves H3 lead, however, as'before from theannular chamber J through the inner wall of this chamber which is formedby the periphery H of the plate H.

In the construction shown in Figure 1 it is preferable to form the valvecone B on the end of the spindle B of greater length than in theconstruction shown in Figure 3 since in the construction shown in Figurel the grooves H3 lead the fuel into the inner end of the central`chamber H2. On the other hand, in the construction shown in Figure 3t-he grooves H3 deliver the fuel into the central chamber nearer to thedelivery passage Gr, the cent-ral chamber in this case being formed to aconsiderable extent by the recess E which is made of greater depth thanin the construction shown in Figure l.

The details of construction may be modilied as required in accordancewith the construction of sprayer to which the invention is applied. Thethickness of each plate H may vary for example in accordance with thedimensions that it is required to give to the annular chamber J. Also inplace of grooves H3 in the fac-e of each plat-e tangential holes may bedrilled through the plate, these holes being arranged so that they willlead from the outerperiphery of the plate which forms the inner wallof'the annular'chamber J into the central hole A2 in the plate. 'Iheannular chamber J may be formed in various ways and the outer wall E4may be curved if` desired so as to merge into the wall E3 in order tofacilitate the change in the direction of the flow of the fuel whichtakes place in this chamber.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters `Patent isl. In a liquid fuel sprayer the combina tion of a hollow cylindricalsprayer body having a closed end with a circular flat end surface, a capon thesend of the sprayer body, an 'annular plate gf less outsidediameter than that of the end of the sprayer body disposed and carriedbetween it and the cap so that an annular space is formed in advance ofthe closed end of the sprayer body and the cap, between the sprayerbody' and the hole in the centre of the annular plate constituting amixing chamber, a plurality of passages formed .in the annular plate andextending tangentially from t-he central opening therein to and throughthe outer periphery of the plate and serving for the flow of fuel fromthe annular chamber, a plurality of passages extending from the hollowinterior of the sprayer body through the closed end thereof into theannular chamber and serving for the delivery of `fuel into this chamber,and 'a central orifice leading through the end, cap from the mixingchamber and serving as a nozzle for the sprayer as set forth.

- 2. In a liquid fuel sprayer the combination of a hollovs7 cylindricalsprayer body having a closed end with a circular flat end surface, a capon the end of the sprayer` body, an annular plate of less diameter thanthe end of the sprayer body disposed and carried between it and the capso that an annular space is formed in advance of the closed end of thesprayer body and between it and the cap, the hole in the centre of theannular plate constituting a mixing chamber, a plurality of groovesformed in one face of the plate forming in conjunction with the flatsurface against which the plate is held, a series of passages extendingtangentially from the central opening in the plate to and through theouter periphery of the plate land serving for the flow of fuel from theannular chamber, a plurality of passages extending from the hollowinterior of the sprayer body through the closed end thereof into theannular chamber and serving for the deliveryof fuel into t-his-chamber,and a central orice lea-ding through the end cap from the mixing chamberand serving as a nozzle for the sprayer as set forth.

In a liquid fuel sprayer the combination of a sprayer body` a capmounted on the end of the sprayer body so that the inner face of the capis opposed to the end face of the body, a recess formed in one ot theseopposed faces. an annular plate carried between the sprayer body and thecap and disposed wit-h a part of its thickness in the recess in one ofthese opposed faces the central 'opening in the plate constituting amixing chamber while that portion of the outer periphery of the platewhich does not lie within the recess forms the inner wall of an annularchamber comprised between the cap and the end of the sprayer body, aplurality of passages formed in the annular plate and extendingtangentially from the central opening therein to and through the outerperlphery of the plate and serving for the :How of fuel from the annularchamber, a plurality of passages extending through the end of the bodyof the sprayer into the annular chamber and serving for the delivery offuel into this chamber, and a central orifice leading through the endcap from the mixing chamber and constituting a nozzle for the sprayer asset forth.

4. In a liquid fuel sprayer the combination of a hollow cylindricalsprayer body having a closed endrwith a fiat circular end surface, a capon the end of the sprayer bod anannular plate of less diameter than theend of the sprayer body disposed and carried between 1t and the cap sothat an annular space is formed in a.dvance.of the closed end of thesprayer body and between the sprayer body and the cap, the hole in thecentrek of the annular plate constituting a mixing chamber, a pluralityof passages formed in the annular plate and extending tangentially fromthe central opening therein to and through the outer periphery of theplate and serving for the flow ot' fue. from the annular'chamber, aplurality of passages extending from the hollow interior of the sprayerbody through the closed end thereof into the annular chamber and servingfor the delivery of fuel into this chamber, a central oritice leadingthrough the end cap from the mixing chamber and serving as a nozzle forthe sprayer, and a valve carried on a spindle extending through theclosed end of the sprayer body into the mixing chamber and nozze openingas set forth.

5. In a liquid fuel sprayer the combination of a sprayer body, a Capmounted on the end of the sprayer body so that the inner face of the capis opposed to the end face of the body, a recess formed in one of theseopposed faces, an annular plate carried between the sprayer body and thecap and disposed with a part. of its thickness in the recess in one ofthese opposed faces the central opening in the plate constituting amixing chamber While that portion of the outer periphery of the plateWhich does not lie Within the recess forms the inner Wall of an annularchamber comprised between the cap and the end of the sprayer body, aplurality of grooves so formed in one face of the annular plate thatwith the part against which the face of this plate lies the grooves Willconstitute passages extending tangentially from the central opening inthe plate to and through the outer periphery of the plate and servingfor the flow of fuel from 'the annular chamber, a. plurality of passagesextending through the end of the body of the sprayer into the annularchamber and serving for the delivery of fuel into this chamber, and acentral orifice leading posed with a part of its thickness in the relcess in one of these opposed faces the central opening in the plateconstituting a mixing chamber While that portion of the outer peripheryof the plate which does not lie Within the recess forms the inner wallof an annular chamber comprised between the cap and the end of thesprayer body, a plurality of straight grooves so formed in one face ot'the annular plate that with the part against which the face ofl thisplate `lies the grooves will constitute passages extending tangentiallyfrom the central opening in the plate to and through the outer peripheryof the plate and serving for the flow of fuel from the annular chamber,a plurality of passages extending through the end of the body of thesprayer into the annular chalnber and serving for the delivery of fuelinto this chamber, a central orifice leading through the end cap fromthe mixing chamber and constituting a. nozzle for the sprayer. and avalve carried on a spindle extending through the body of the sprayerinto the mixing chamber and nozzle opening as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ANDREWr FORSTER.

